Dialling LG’s grievances cell costs job to 16 private teachers in Valley

Muhammad Mukaram

Frustrated after not getting their salary for several months, several teachers of a private school in south Kashmir approached Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s Grievance Cell, but this act resulted in their disengagement from service.

After the staff members of Muslim Educational Institute (MEI), located in south Kashmir’s Pampore, registered formal complaint in LG’s Grievances Cell with a demand that their salaries pending for seven months be released, the school authorities in an alleged act of vengeance terminated more than a dozen teachers.

According to the aggrieved teachers the school has already collected fee from all students during the Covid19 lockdown period.

The staff members of the private institute had registered two online complaints on LG’s Grievance Cell vide number 9541026649, dated 16-12-2020 and 2362 dated 31-12-2020.

As soon as the school authorities came to know about the complaint lodged by its teachers, the school management in an act of retribution began relieving teachers.

One of the teachers while pleading anonymity told STATE TIMES that “Instead of addressing a genuine issue, the school authorities terminated services of at least 16 teachers.”

“I was shocked when I saw my termination letter which was sent to me via post office. I have two kids and extended family to feed. Where will I go?, asked another aggrieved teacher.

The teachers informed that they repeatedly requested the school management to release their salaries, but to no avail.

“They (school authorities) didn’t pay any heed to our requests. Later we (staff members) collectively decided to register our grievance with the LG. In response, we received termination letters,” said a teacher.

A copy of the complaint which was registered with LG’s Grievance Cell by the teachers is lying with STATE TIMES. It reads: “Sir, our six months full salary has not been released by the school authorities. Our humble submission before your office is to redress our grievances. Huge amounts of annual charges and school donations are collected by the school authorities from the newly admitted students.”

On 31-12-2020, one teacher among the terminated teachers received termination letter from the school authorities. “Your services are dispensed with from the institute as per the rules and wages in leu of prior notice is being credited into your account.”

After the repeated complaints with LG and also before the office of Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Pulwama zone has issued notice to the school authorities to attend before the office.

The letter directed to school authorities reads, “Repeated complaints have been received by this office against your institution that you are not paying salary to the staff regularly. Regarding the matter you were repeatedly advised to report the office of undersigned in order to resolve the grievance of aggrieved staff.”

However, the circular was issued by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir in August 2020 regarding the payment of salaries to the staff.

District magistrate Pulwama, Dr Raghav Langar has ordered the Assistant Labour Commissioner and Chief Education officer Pulwama to inquire in this issue.